Chapter 72
The pill Dochad given me started to kick in around the time the opening ceremony started. Before that, Isaac informed me all about this strike Ty was running this week. This one was different than the last, and a few of the riders had made sure he and Jorge knew about it.
I'd been kept out of the loop because of J.D. and Cody. That made sense, because neither one would like knowing they were getting something handed to them. In this case, it was more about the point of it than who won. So in that lull between the big opening display of PBR's pyrotechnics and the start of the actual event, Jorge made sure Cletus was in the loop too.
So when the first rider sent his bull out with nothing but a rope, the jokes from tonight's clown were the sort that would make the fans actually stop and think about what was going on.
"Maybe he's scared the judges won't like him," Cletus had drawled, flapping his hand like that was a dumb idea.
And the crowd had howled at the idea. My guys pulled in around me as the next five men after that all did exactly the same thing. Our eyes were on the sixth chute for the night. The one with J.D. standing up there behind it, ready to go.
"Is he good for this?" Jorge asked me.
"Yeah," I said, aware my hands were throbbing still. "J.D. will make sure of it. Just do not let him get run over, ok?"
"Not on our watch," Isaac promised.
We had taken turns collecting the rope and running it back to the chutes. Each time, we got a salute or a few words of appreciation. Not a single man skipped it either, making me aware of just how much they'd all hated the other team.
And then J.D. climbed over the rail and into his chute. I had to do a double-take, though, because that wasn't Cody pulling for him. It looked like Jake!
"Now I'm getting worried," I told Isaac. "Where's Cody?"
"Being distracted, the way Ty tells it," he assured me. "Tanner, they have a plan."
"Hope so."
But we pulled closer, spreading out to manage this bull because we knew J.D. was riding hurt. I noticed Jake was helping him with his wrap, but didn't want to worry about that. This was going to be ok. I wouldnotlet him get hurt.
Then Jake climbed back to the safe side and I felt my breath catch. From across the arena, I heard, "Go, J.D.!" and recognized his sister's voice.
He looked up. I couldn't see much more through his helmet than that, but I did notice when he looked over at me. And then he dropped down, landing on the bull.
The gate opened, and a little brown-and-white thing flew out. Fuck, this one was quick, but J.D. looked like he had it. He was also a lot more loose than normal. I had a feeling that was because he was high. It had to be.
The bull kicked out, did a little shimmy in the middle and then set up his spins. The whole time, J.D. fuckingrode. It was as if his pain was forgotten - or at least postponed for a moment. The three of us kept shifting back and over, keeping the animalin our triangle of protection, and I knew the clock was spinning down fast.
Then it stumbled. My eyes jumped down to the legs, checking for a knee to hit the dirt so J.D. could get a re-ride, but that didn't happen. The animal just staggered enough to make him lurch forward.
"Keep riding!" I yelled, hoping he'd realize it wasn't a foul.
So J.D. wrapped his legs around that little bull, heaved him over, and I swore he made the damned thing actually work for its supper. When his legs ran across the side, the press of those rolled spurs against flesh was visible. If the judges didn't give him at least a half decent score for this, then J.D. would have plenty to use against them.
But right as he was getting into it, the buzzer went off. The lights flashed and spun across the dirt, dozens of PBR logo spotlights making a disco effect around me.
"You're good!" Jorge called.
J.D. grabbed the tail of his rope and tossed it. The thing went slack. His hand was free, but the bull was still bucking. I was braced for him to take a facer in the sand, but J.D. just rode it, completely hands-free, for two more bucks before hopping off the side I was on.
I caught him around the waist, making sure he landed on his feet, and moved him behind me. Jorge had already caught the bull's attention, getting it to follow him. Isaac was bringing up the rear, and so far, all of that was working out. The animal didn't even try to resist as they led him straight to the bull gate, so I grabbed J.D.'s rope out of the sand and headed back to him.
"How are you feeling?" I asked.
"Been better," he admitted as he took his rope. "You know about the strike, right?"
"I do, but you're not supposed to."
"Ty told me," he explained. "Cody doesn't know shit, though. And Jaxon told me he was real sorry - and meant it too."
